Firing mechanism for line throwing guns



May 7, 19546. HUBALEK FIRING MECHANISM FOR LINE THROWING GUNS Filed June 3-, 1944 aam m @i M. 4 9

Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT FIRING MEGHANISM FOR LIN E THROWING GUN S 1 Claim.

The invention disclosed herein relates to mechanism for firing guns such as. used for throwing lines between ships or between ships and shore.

Special objects of the invention are to provide mechanism for firing guns of the type mentioned, which can be quickly mounted on or removed from the gun barrel, which will consist of but few parts and those of simple rugged design, not subject to breakage or getting out of order, which will be easy to load and unload, positive in action and, while easy to fire by lanyard pull or the like, safe up to the moment of actual firing.

Other desirable objects and the novel features of the invention by which the intended purposes are attained are set forth or will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawing accompanying and formin Part of the specification illustrates a present practical embodiment of the invention, but it will be appreciated that structure may be modified and changed invarious ways, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 in the drawing is a side elevation of a line throwing gun having the invention incorporated therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view across the breech of the gun, as On line 22 of Fig. 1.

In the illustration, 1 designates the barrel of a muzzle loading cannon such as the invention is usually applied to. Over the breech portion, this barrel is provided with a coarse screw-threaded passage 8, to receive the correspondingly screwthreaded stem 9, of the breech piece Ill.

The latter is shown as having an angular head H, by which it may be turned down firmly over a concaved washer l2, seated over the top of the barrel.

Above the head, the breech piece is shown as having a screw-threaded portion l3, of slightly larger diameter and finer screw pitch than the mounting shank portion 9.

Extending entirely through the breech plug is a bore M, which may be of the same diameter throughout, but which at the upper end at least is of a size to form a chamber for a blank cartridge l5, such for example, as 32 caliber or the like.

The cartridge chamber is shown as having a narrow raised rim l6, providing a seat for the flange or rim of the cartridge and the top of the breech piece is shown as concaved upwardly to this cartridge seat to facilitate easy removal of an exploded cartridge.

The cartridge chamber is closed over by a removable breech head l1, internally screw -threaded at I8, to fit the screw-threaded portion l3, and externally shaped at Hi, to take a Wrench or the like.

This removable breech head has a concentric cylindrical tubular extension 20', in which the firing pin 2|, is slidingly guided and over which the hammer 22, is slidingly guided.

The point of the firing pin operates through a hole 23, provided in the breech head and back of this point, the pin is enlarged or flanged at 24, to provide a step or shoulder for the spring 25, surrounding the stem of the pin and bearing against the screw plug 26,, closing the-outer end of the tubular extension 20.

The stem or shank portion of the firing pin slides freely through the spring abutment plug 26, and is attached to the hammer by a cross pin 21.

The hammer and connected firing pin are held in cocked position by a trigger in the form of a yoke 28, arched to fit over the hammer head 22, and pivoted to the latter by means of the cross pin 21, securing the hammer and firing pin together.

The ends of this yoke are shown as squared off to rest flat on an annular shoulder or step 29. about the base of the firing pin guide extension 20, and the relation of the parts is such that when the trigger yoke is lined up in engagement with such shoulder, it will hold the hammer and firing pin retracted in cocked relation.

For tripping the trigger, a bail or ring 30, is shown pivotally connected with the spaced arms of the trigger yoke, to which a lanyard 3|, or the like, may be connected.

A safety lock is provided in the illustration, in the form of a spring cotter pin 32, insertable through openings 33, 34, in the outer arched end of the trigger yoke and hammerhead respectively, when the parts are in fully cocked position and connected with the lanyard ring by a short chain 35.

The hammerhead 22, is shown as of generally rectangular cross-section, with fiat parallel sides, over which the trigger yoke may freely pivot,

The abrupt inner ends of the trigger yoke by their extended engagement with the supporting shoulder 29, maintain the trigger firmly in cocked relation and keep it safe against any accidental or unintentional release. At the same time however, only a slight but firm pull on the lanyard is necessary to efiect the release.

To avoid any chance of the trigger yoke catch;

ing or failing to release the hammer and firing pin, the breech head is shown as relieved in a concave flare 36, immediately below and about the annular sear or supporting shoulder 29. This structure makes certain that the ends of the yoke will swing free and clear of any contact as they leave the sear or supporting surface 29.

The entire mechanism is relatively small and the partsare compactly disposed, so as to take up but smallspace and project only 'a slight distance above the gun barrel. 7

The mechanism is readily applicable to any ordinary cannon by simply screw-threading the touch-hole to take the threaded stern-of the base or breech piece. The parts preferably are made.

of stainless steel or the like, so thatthey will. always remain in proper working condition in all kinds of weather and without requiring particu lar care or attention.

The head carrying the firing pin and trigger mechanism is quickly attachable j to and removable from the fixed breech piece, enabling :quick and easy loading and ejection of the cartridges. The firing mechanism carried by the removable head may be cocked before or after applyingit to the breech piece carrying' -the cartridge. Hence the firing mechanism maybe cooked and set at safety before screwing it into position over the cartridge and it may then be left on safety, right up to the moment-it is'to be fired. The change from safety to firing condition i immediately accomplished by simply pulling out the "spring cotter pin, leaving it hung on to the lan yard ring, ready for instant use. r

The spring pressed firing pin and hammer unit, carrying the trigger yoke, are rotatably mounted in and on the tubular stem of the breech head, enabling these parts to be turned for pull of the lanyard in any desired direction. v

The shoulder 29, for holding the parts i in cocked relation is shown a a relatively narrow ledge to avoid undue friction between this shoulder and the ends of the trigger yoke or lever. By connecting the lanyard with-the inner ends of the yoke, the trigger releasing force is applied close to the stationary supporting part of the mechanism and without introducing any tendencies to cause the parts to bind, through changing leverages, or the like. Thesupporting stem forming the base or cartridge holder portion of the mechanism may be made up in one. piece. Likewise, the breech head which forms the cap or cover over the cartridge holder can be made up in one piece. The trigger yoke which in service acts in the capacity of a pivoted toggle lever, can be made up from a single strip doubled upon itself in the form of an arch or loop having substantially parallel sides.

J The cotter pin 32, may be fashioned with a chisel-pointed end or the like, to provide immediately available means for effecting extraction of the exploded cartridge.

, What, is claimed is: Gun firing mechanism comprising a tubular cartridge holder, a breech head having a readily removable screw threaded engagement on' said catridge holder, a firing pin longitudinally slidable through said breech head, a hammer head onthe outer end of said firing pin spring .for driving said firingpin toward the end of-the cartridge holder, a yoke arched about said ham; mer head and firing pin and having substantially parallel side portions at opposite sides of and pivotally connected with said hammer head and firing pin,- a supporting shoulder disposed r01 engagement by the end of said opposite; sides of said pivoted yoke and disposed when so engaged to enable the yoke to hold the firing pin n re tracted position, and means for tripping the ends of said pivoted yoke from supported engagement Withsaid shoulden'.

ARTHUR 

